Deathclaws Aren’t Just a Boss Fight—They’re the New Bane of Your Existence in Fallout Season 2

Todd Howard refused to let Deathclaws become grindy encounters. Fallout Season 2’s episode 4 pulls off a banger of a reveal by making them the ultimate man-made horror. The show’s creators waited until season 2 to debut Deathclaws, ensuring they’d spend the right amount of time treating them as a story element—not just another creature.

In the flashback sequence, Cooper Howard suits up in T-45 power armor to confront Chinese soldiers during the Battle of Anchorage.

The scene juxtaposes the military’s desperation with the grotesque reality of Deathclaws—American-made lab creations designed to support pre-War operations. Howard’s dialogue hints at the ethical rot behind their creation, framing them as both weapon and victim.

The show’s decision to delay Deathclaws aligns with Howard’s quote about narrative pacing. By anchoring their debut in Cooper’s past, the series transforms them from a boss fight into a symbol of humanity’s self-destruction.

The grindy encounters fans feared? They’re replaced with a haunting origin story that redefines what it means to “fight” a Deathclaw.